Have decided to double my Solar PV

solarman216 · 02-03-2020, 22:26

Yep not liking to pay for diesel for electric so looking for reasonably priced PV panels, need 1600 Watts total to go with the 1600 I already have, would have done this before but my existing controller is on its limit amps wise 60 @ 24v and they are rather expensive but sourced a good deal from the US so now need the PV to go with it, best so far is 8 X 200W panels @ £139 each inc delivery and vat, from company located in UK, I can get them cheaper from Germany but the carriage kills it at £39 per panel, to put my needs in perspective, today at around 1pm I was getting 40 amps charge, running the genny produces 80 amps, its not easy being green as Dick Strawbridge used to say before he bought his French Chateau, Rick

jims-terrano · 03-03-2020, 01:40

I don’t blame you Rick, wish I could have more panels but since the next door neighbours built an extension that casts a nice shadow I just don’t see the point. We used to produce a reasonable amount of power especially around this time of year so. I did have plans to expand but now I wish we hadn’t paid out for the ones we have. Never mind when we come to sell the house it will be a selling point.
Not a problem you’ll ever have Rick

panelbeater · 03-03-2020, 10:00

i looked into putting solar on my house many many years ago but my roofs are not the right shape/way to make it feasable.
my electric usage is low around 25 a month less when out vanning so i feel its not worth it.
your set up means you will bennifit more so i say go for it as i and you know the more panels the better for you.

solarman216 · 06-03-2020, 21:53

£1120 has purchased 8 panels to give me another 1600 W, now my existing also giving 1600 W cost over £5k in 2008, win win all the way, Rick

panelbeater · 07-03-2020, 13:23

shows how much they have come down,its the same for putting them on caravan roofs,so cheap now and the regulaters have got more efficient a well so you get more ams from the volts.
you cant lose rick.you might have to up your battery bank though.

solarman216 · 16-03-2020, 20:56

Got frame work up on Sunday and a couple of panels, lots of other work going on as well like painting the wobbly iron roof so today should of seen the hardware up and done but disaster, the last panel was resting against the scaffold hand rail and as I came up the ladder a hardly noticeable gust came up and I guess cos I was on the ladder I deflected it to the panel which in slow motion fell forward right onto the top of a pole poking up from the boards, need less to say it has gone to the graveyard, new one ordered due Thursday, try and take some pics tomorrow if I remember, Rick

02-03-2020, 22:26	#1
solarman216 Off road maniac Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Bexhill on Sea Vehicle: Y60 Patrol Me, 3 ltr Mrs Posts: 17,430	Have decided to double my Solar PV Yep not liking to pay for diesel for electric so looking for reasonably priced PV panels, need 1600 Watts total to go with the 1600 I already have, would have done this before but my existing controller is on its limit amps wise 60 @ 24v and they are rather expensive but sourced a good deal from the US so now need the PV to go with it, best so far is 8 X 200W panels @ £139 each inc delivery and vat, from company located in UK, I can get them cheaper from Germany but the carriage kills it at £39 per panel, to put my needs in perspective, today at around 1pm I was getting 40 amps charge, running the genny produces 80 amps, its not easy being green as Dick Strawbridge used to say before he bought his French Chateau, Rick __________________ Ex banger racer now off road maniac Lokka on the front with manual hubs Diff lock on rear 3 inch SS straight through exhaust Manly winch bumper with 13000 lb winch 10 spike ground anchor, with multiple straps and blocks Super strong body cills capped with scaffold pole 20% stronger springs all round aggressive off road tyres on wheels so just swap. Aim to get stuck and be completely self sufficient in extraction, love getting muddy, 2ft deep is good but rare.

06-03-2020, 21:53	#4
solarman216 Off road maniac Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Bexhill on Sea Vehicle: Y60 Patrol Me, 3 ltr Mrs Posts: 17,430	£1120 has purchased 8 panels to give me another 1600 W, now my existing also giving 1600 W cost over £5k in 2008, win win all the way, Rick __________________ Ex banger racer now off road maniac Lokka on the front with manual hubs Diff lock on rear 3 inch SS straight through exhaust Manly winch bumper with 13000 lb winch 10 spike ground anchor, with multiple straps and blocks Super strong body cills capped with scaffold pole 20% stronger springs all round aggressive off road tyres on wheels so just swap. Aim to get stuck and be completely self sufficient in extraction, love getting muddy, 2ft deep is good but rare.

16-03-2020, 20:56	#6
solarman216 Off road maniac Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Bexhill on Sea Vehicle: Y60 Patrol Me, 3 ltr Mrs Posts: 17,430	Got frame work up on Sunday and a couple of panels, lots of other work going on as well like painting the wobbly iron roof so today should of seen the hardware up and done but disaster, the last panel was resting against the scaffold hand rail and as I came up the ladder a hardly noticeable gust came up and I guess cos I was on the ladder I deflected it to the panel which in slow motion fell forward right onto the top of a pole poking up from the boards, need less to say it has gone to the graveyard, new one ordered due Thursday, try and take some pics tomorrow if I remember, Rick __________________ Ex banger racer now off road maniac Lokka on the front with manual hubs Diff lock on rear 3 inch SS straight through exhaust Manly winch bumper with 13000 lb winch 10 spike ground anchor, with multiple straps and blocks Super strong body cills capped with scaffold pole 20% stronger springs all round aggressive off road tyres on wheels so just swap. Aim to get stuck and be completely self sufficient in extraction, love getting muddy, 2ft deep is good but rare.

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03-03-2020, 01:40	#2
jims-terrano Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: UK Posts: 12,965	I don’t blame you Rick, wish I could have more panels but since the next door neighbours built an extension that casts a nice shadow I just don’t see the point. We used to produce a reasonable amount of power especially around this time of year so. I did have plans to expand but now I wish we hadn’t paid out for the ones we have. Never mind when we come to sell the house it will be a selling point. Not a problem you’ll ever have Rick

03-03-2020, 10:00	#3
panelbeater Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: clacton on sea essex Vehicle: nissan terrano 2 2.7 tdi Posts: 1,638	i looked into putting solar on my house many many years ago but my roofs are not the right shape/way to make it feasable. my electric usage is low around 25 a month less when out vanning so i feel its not worth it. your set up means you will bennifit more so i say go for it as i and you know the more panels the better for you.

07-03-2020, 13:23	#5
panelbeater Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: clacton on sea essex Vehicle: nissan terrano 2 2.7 tdi Posts: 1,638	shows how much they have come down,its the same for putting them on caravan roofs,so cheap now and the regulaters have got more efficient a well so you get more ams from the volts. you cant lose rick.you might have to up your battery bank though.